Warning on the Waitlist Process

8 JUNE 2016



Today I awoke to a blessed event: my waitlist email came through! So of course I jumped on, discovered the Hyatt was available and booked the room. Almost.

Right as I got to the name and credit card part, OnPeak said they already had me in the system, was that me? I said sure, but they asked for a password and the one I entered didn't work. Requested a reset, and got taken to a home page that invited me to click on HOTELS. So I did and now all the hotels were grayed out.

I immediately figured out that I had been taken to the regular SDCC hotel page, instead of the Waitlist one. So I did the process again from the start. Hyatt was still available. But once again when they asked if I was me, and I logged in as me, I got a message that said the Hyatt had sold out in the time I was inputting my credit card.

I was semi-livid, but decided those were the breaks and picked the Hilton Gaslamp instead. (I really like that hotel.) Same thing happened - sold out while I was entering my info. At this point, I got suspicious, started the whole process from scratch again, and this time said it was NOT me when they asked. Voila, hotel was available - and the reservation went through.

I was so desperate to lock it down that I confirmed it before I realized the Hyatt might be available too. So I looked and yes, it was. So I called OnPeak with my tale of woe and they started a ticket.

Point being: if this happens to you, be cautious. Your dream room may not be sold out. Maybe this was a singular snafu that happened only to me, but I thought I'd sound the warning.

And since I know you're wondering: yes, there were some great hotels available. I didn't see Hilton Bayfront or Marriot Marquis but pretty much everything else.

ETA: It's been pointed out that the email warns against this. However, I've now heard from 4 other people this happened to - which means that a lot of us are logging in as soon as we come to the link, which is pretty understandable given how quickly rooms sell out. So just be aware of this and click no.

8 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you were able to get something good! I'm crossing my finger for you that OnPeak doesn't mess it up.

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    1. I was pleasantly surprised by how many good hotels were available. It was starting to feel like my email would never come, and that only Town and Country would be left!

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  2. Is it possible to get workman's comp for the mental anguish and strain that we endure for a supposedly fun time in SD? I'll be thinking good thoughts for you for the Hilton Gaslamp. Come on, OnPeak. Make it happen.

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    1. I'm sure Hyatt will sell out by the time they get around to it, so I'm not holding my breath.

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  3. Do you know what number you originally had in the hotel madness on April 5? Wondering if I have any hope...

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    1. Yes, the first # I saw was in the high 2000s. Pretty quick, but not immediate. Hope that helps.

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  4. Hi..if no email by June 12 then that's it?
    I already reserved thu booking.com (Andaz) and hotels.com (Renaissance)- Still deciding on one of them.
    Both are expensive but hoping that email comes through.

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    1. I don't believe so; CCI said the process will continue until the rooms are sold out or the waitlist completed. It's a slow process, given the emails are going out in small batches and even then everyone has 48 hours to finalize. Don't give up hope yet.

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